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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Its 


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Photogiaphic 

Sdenfjes 

Corporation 


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23  WiST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)S72-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notat/Notes  tachniquas  at  bibllographiquaa 


Tha  Instltuta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
reproduction,  or  which  may  aignificantiy  change 
tha  uaual  method  of  filming,  are  chaclced  below. 


D 


n 


D 


Coloured  covera/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covera  damaged/ 


Couverture  endomm^g^e 

Covera  reatorad  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  reataur^a  et/ou  peiiicui^e 

Cover  title  miasing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I     I    Coloured  mapa/ 


Cartea  gicgraphiquea  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I      I    Coloured  plataa  and/or  illuatrationa/ 


D 


Planchaa  et/ou  illuatrationa  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avac  d'autrea  documanta 

Tight  binding  may  cauae  ahadowa  or  diatortlon 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  aerie  peut  ca^.;ir  da  i'ombre  ou  de  la 
diatortlon  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leavea  added  during  reatoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  poMibie,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  ae  peut  que  certainaa  pagea  bianchea  ajouttea 
lore  d'une  reatauration  apparaiaaant  dana  le  texte, 
maia,  ioraque  cela  Malt  poaaible,  cea  pagea  n'ont 
paa  6t6  fiimias. 

Additional  commenta:/ 
Commentairaa  aupplAmantairaa: 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm^  la  mallleur  exemplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  6tA  poaaible  de  ae  procurer.  Lea  ditaiia 
de  cet  exemplaira  qui  aont  paut-Atre  uniquea  du 
point  da  vue  bibliographiqua,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normala  de  filmaga 
aont  indlquto  ci-daaaoua. 


D 

D 
D 
0 
D 

n 
n 

D 


Coloured  pagea/ 
Pagea  da  couleur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pagea  andommagiaa 

Pagea  reatorad  and/or  laminated/ 
Pagea  reataurAas  et/ou  pelliculAea 

Pagea  diacoloured,  atalnad  or  foxed/ 
Pagea  dAcoiortea,  tachatAea  ou  piqutea 

Pagea  detached/ 
Pagea  ditachtea 

Showthrough/ 
Tranaparence 

Quality  of  print  variea/ 
Qualiti  inigaia  da  I'impraaaion 

Includea  auppiamentory  material/ 
Comprend  du  material  aupplimantaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  diaponible 

Pagea  wholly  or  partially  obacured  by  errata 
alipa,  tiaauea,  etc.,  nave  been  refilmed  to 
enaure  the  beat  poaaible  image/ 
Lea  pagea  totalament  ou  partiellement 
obacurciaa  par  un  fauillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  fllmiaa  A  nouveau  de  fapoti  ^ 
obtenir  la  mellleure  image  poaaible. 


Thia  item  ia  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  filmA  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-deaaoua. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

k 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


■A**!'.'' 


Tn=? 


The  copy  filmed  here  he*  been  reproduced  thenks 
to  the  generoeity  of: 

Library  of  the  Pubiic 
Archives  of  Canada 


L'exempiaire  fiimi  fut  reproduit  grAce  h  ia 
gtnAroeitt  de: 

La  bibliothAque  des  Archives 
pubiiques  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  tha 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t4  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  ia  nettetA  de  l'exempiaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  parar  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — »>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichsver  applies. 

IVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  exempiaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sont  fiim6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  ompreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustratlon.  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exempiaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commence  .t  par  la 
premlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustratlon  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suSvants  apparaftra  sur  ia 
derniAre  Image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  le 
cas:  le  symbols  —►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  et;..,  peuvent  dtre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diftArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  c  t  un  seul  cllchA,  11  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  i'angle  sup6rleur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droits, 
et  de  haut  en  has,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
lllustrent  ia  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

^ 


■■■^WtSpf'":*'^    •■-      ','9'^?71fJ:,^       ~'r 


LECTURE 


ON 


THE  DISCOVERY  OF  AMERICA 

BY 

THE    NORTHMEN, 

FIVE  HUNDRED  YEARS  BEFORE  COLUMBUS, 
DELIVERED  IN  NEW  YORK, 

AND   IN  THE   OTHKR   CITIES  OF  THE  STATE,  ALSO  IN  SOME  OP  THE   rmST 

SEMINARIES. 


BY  A.  DAVIS, 


rOKMEBLY  CHAPLAIN  OF  TKB  SEKATE,  ETC-  OF  NEW  VOBK. 


^ 


FOURTH    EDITION, 

WITH    ADDITIONS. 


I 


NXW-YORK: 

PUBLISHED  BY  SAMUEL  COLMAN, 

VIII    ASTOR    HOUSE,   BROADWAY. 


1830. 


^^'^■r: — I  •-x'"'ir'"^T™v      ~V-'  " 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  A.  D.  183!),  by  Asnhel  Dnvis, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the  Southern 
%  District  of  New  Yorh. 


W.   MOLINEUX,    rKINTEU, 
CORNER  OF   ANN   AND  NASSAU   STREETS. 


Li?»»»f,lJW»if|i^,.> 


"^'•*lk'    ir'''T' 


UECOMMENDATIONS. 


Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Prof.  WWoughhy,  President  of  the  Medical 
College,  Fairfield,  N.  Y,  to  G.  W.  Card,  AL  D„  Ohio. 


"Mr.  Davis  is  lecturing  <- a  History, 
and  gave  last  evening  to  the  citizens 
here,  and  to  the  students  of  botii  insti- 
tutions, a  most  eloquent  and  interesting 
lecture  on  the  antiquity  of  our  country, 


and  the  utmost  certainty  of  the  disco- 
very thereof  before  the  days  of  Colum- 
bus— to  my  mind  tho  evidence  is  con- 
clusive." 


From.  Drs.  Coventry    and  Oondsell,   distinguished  Physicians,  of 

Utica. 


"  Mr.  Davis  has  delivered  the  lec- 
ture which  is  noticed  above  to  a  large 
audience  in  this  city.  We  the  under- 
signed, vvrho  were  present  at  its  delive- 
ry, take  great  pleasure  in  expressing 


our  own  gratification  and  in  stating  our 
belief  that  all  his  auditors  were  highly 
pleased.  The  Lecture  is  instructive 
and  interesting." 


From  Mrs.  Willard  of  Troy. 


"  Mr.  Davis  has  delivered  an  inter- 
esting and  instructive  lecture,  relating 


to  the  history  of  our  country,  to  the 
members  of  theTroy  Fem.  Seminary." 


Tlie  Commercial  of  Buffalo,  Jan.  23, 


After  speaking  of  the  lecture,  "On 
Ihe  discovery  of  the  Northmen,"  says, 
*'  we  have  perused  it  somewhat  hasti- 
ly an^  find  it  abounding  with  histori- 
cal facts  of  a  very  interesting  nature, 


compiled  with  much  care  and  labor 
and  adorned  with  that  poetry  of  thought 
so  indispen^ible  when  published  iu  the 
form  of  a  book." 


ikffiyi^akAA^„^«ua^A   .. 


"^^r 


■w  fl  I  - . ,  ■    Y  »,  ;■ '  v-  Hf " '  I  iw^K»'  w^i  T,".v"  i-ii  I  wpf  mn  ¥  I  ■  a  ■ 


TO  THE  PUBLIC. 


The  generous  patronage  received  for  the  delivery  of  the  following  Lcctur« 
leads  to  its  publication.  Tiiough  faint  the  ray  of  knowledge  it  may  impart, 
yet  I  trust  it  will  still  be  seen  and  its  benefits  rewarded  while  exhibited  in  a 
different  medium. 

The  sale  of  three  editions,  in  a  few  months,  shows  that  this  hope  of  suc- 
cess has  not  been  disappointed.  The  fourth  ia  presented  with  improve- 
ments. 

Together  with  original  matter,  tlie  lecture  is  a  compilation  from  some  of 
the  most  popular  periodicals  of  the  day.  To  collect  and  arrange  facts  from 
various  sources — "hoc  opus,  hie  labor  c»t."  The  history  of  the  Northmen 
by  Hon.  Mr.  Wheaton,  and  the  sjilendid  work  on  American  Antiquities, 
published  last  year  in  Denmark,  havo  also  been  consulted. 


Ai.S'i*    '&j-<^^  J.  JL      ^,3    .jiJ.    4"     i-^  .'Ai  . 


ilippfi  WJl  Vl*|l:  '■ 


l-J-'fJ^-^V 


LECTUll£. 


B- 

vn 
n 


WrtiLt  the  beauties  of  tho  visible  creation  fade  on  the  eye — while  all  nature 
reposes  under  the  mantle  of  night,  it  is  pleasant  to  leave  the  haunts  of  busi- 
ness for  the  lecture  room,  and  to  survey  the  dark  regions  of  the  past  under 
the  light  of  history. 

That  curiosity  which  is  attracted  by  theories,  not  because  they  are  new, 
but  because  they  are  based  in  truth,  is  tlie  first  and  last  principle  of  a  groat 
and  noble  mind.  It  is  this  which  induces  the  traveller  to  cross  tlio  turl)ulent 
ocean — to  scale  lofty  mountains,  and  to  sit  down  as  on  the  brink  of  vol- 
canoes. It  is  this,  which  leads  the  naturalist  to  survey  the  works  of  crea- 
tion, where  he  sees  that  all  things  reflect  the  perfections  of  Deity;  yes  even 
the  violet,  fresh  from  the  sleep  of  winter,  tells  him  that  there  is  a  God,  and 
that  he  ia  great  and  good.  And  it  is  curiosity  that  causes  tho  historian  to 
inquire  w/ten  and  whence  wae  this  mighty  continent  peopled  ? 

That  America  was  peopled  by  those  in  advance  of  tlie  savage  state  long 
before  any  authentic  accounts  are  given  of  settlements,  is  manifest  from 
nameless  monuments  of  antiquity  found  in  various  parts. 

The  ruins  of  a  city  in  Central  America  are  among  the  most  striking  of  such. 
This  city,  called  Palcnque,  lies  two  hundred  and  forty  miles  from  Tabasco — 
lat.  about  15°.  N. 

It  will  b«  recollected  that  tho  avaricious  Spaniards  discovered  and  con- 
quered Mexico  on  the  north,  aud  Peru  and  Chili  on  the  south  of  Central 
America,  in  the  first  place;  but,  at  length  the  solitude  of  the  latter  was  bro- 
ken, and  there  was  discovered  the  El  Dorado,  about  which  the  whole  Span- 
ish nation  had  so  long  been  dreaming.  It  was  found,  not  above,  but  beneath 
the  surface  of  the  earth—- not  on  the  wide  and  Howry  plain ;  but  under  a  fo- 
rest of  huge  trees.  And  there  were  discovered  not  such  buildings  as  those 
erected  by  the  Druids,  of  rough  and  mis-shapen  stones;  but  such  as  those  in 
which  kings  dwell — built  of  Aeirn  stone. 

The  appearance  of  these  ruins  sl\ows  that  a  nation  once  existed  there  high- 
ly skilled  in  the  mechanic  arts,  and  in  a  state  of  civilization  far  beyond  any 
thing  that  we  have  been  led  to  believe  of  the  aborigines,  previous  to  the 
time  of  Columbus. 

A  distinguished  antiquary  of  New  York  has  received  from  this  city  a  beau- 
tiful specimen  of  the  fine  arts — an  idol  of  pure  gold. 

This  city  has  emphatically  been  called  the  Thebes  of  America.  In  sur- 
veying its  ruins,  the  traveller  is  led  to  believe  that  it  was  founded  at  as  early 
a  period  as  the  renowned  cities  of  Egypt. 


t^n^s^i^JG^^. 


^ 


f^W^*'  '"■  ' 


i.iwrr 'I  K  I",  UN   Tin: 


How  iuunoribe  tlui*  city!  ll  isi  aui)posed  to  liavo  bucii  uixty  miles  iii  i;ji- 
•  •iinilbrenco,  and  tliut  it  conlaiiioil  u  jjopuliitioii  ul  uuiirly  three  millions. 
(.;  real  wore  its  commercial  privileges— even  now,  the  broad  and  bnautil'ul 
Otulnm  rolls  along  its  desolated  l)ordors. 

I'alenque,  lying  almut  one  thousand  miles  from  Mexico,  and  being  eleva- 
ted live  Ihoiisand  feet  above  tiie  ocean,  enjoyed  a  climate  almost  uneciuidled 
for  its  pleasantness.  The  natural  beauty  of  the  scenery  was  unrivalled— 
the  soil  rich  and  fertile  beyond  any  other  portion  of  the  globe. 

One  of  the  princii)al  structures  revealed  to  the  eye  of  the  antiquarian  is 
the  teoculi  or  temple.  Its  style  of  architecture  resembles  the  Cjothic.  It  in 
rude,  massive,  and  durable.  Though  rcaembhng  the  Egyptian  editiops, 
yet  this  aiuUhe  other  buildings  arc  peculiar,  and  are  different  from  all  others 
hitherto  known. 

The  entrance  to  this  temple  is  on  the  cast  side  by  a  portico  more  than  ono 
hundred  I'eet  in  length,  and  nine  feet  broad.  The  rectangular  pillars  of  tho 
portico  have  their  architraves  adorned  with  stucco  work  of  shields  and  other 
devices.  This  temple  stands  on  an  elevation  of  sixty  feet.  Would  that  its 
exalted  location  and  its  splendor  were  indicative  of  elevated  and  enlarged 
views  its  worshippers  might  have  had  of  tho  Supreme  Heing;  but  certain  ob- 
jects or  relievos,  lead  to  the  supposition  that  within  its  massive  walls  human 
beings  were  sacrificed  to  incensed  divinities.  Amid  this  wilderness  of  ruins 
are  now  to  be  seen  fourteen  largo  stone  buildings  with  many  of  their  apart- 
ments in  good  condition. 

The  antiquity  of  this  city  is  manifest  not  only  from  its  nameless  hicrogly- 
pnics  and  other  objects ;  but  from  the  age  of  some  of  tho  trees  growing  over 
buildings  where  once  the  hum  of  industry  and  the  voice  of  merriment  wero 
heard.  Two  hundred  natives  were  employed  by  the  Spaniards  in  felling  tho 
trees  and  in  consuming  them  by  fire.  The  work  was  executed  in  about 
twenty  days. 

The  concentric  circles  of  sojtic  of  these  trees  were  counted,  which  show- 
ed that  they  wero  more  than  nine  hundred  years  of  age. 

Lord  Kingsboro'  thinks  that  the  inhabitants  of  this  city  of  the  desert  were 
the  descendants  of  the  lost  tribes  of  Israel.  One  of  the  facts  on  which  this 
theory  is  based  is,  that  the  temple  resembles  that  of  Solomon.  His  opinion 
is  evidently  erroneous,  from  the  fact  that  the  jjeople  of  Palenque  are  differ- 
ent from  all  others  in  those  distinguishing  characteristics  which  have  ever 
been  assumed  as  the  criteria  of  distinct  species  of  men.  The  physical  struc- 
ture of  this  people,  as  well  as  various  characteristics,  lead  to  the  supposi- 
tion that  they  are  not  derived  from  any  known  prc-existent  people; 

As  yet,  we  must  ask  in  vain,  who  were  the  founders  of  these  cities  of  tho 
dead  1  Alas  !  their  names  have  faded  into  oblivion.  The  remembrance  of 
Their  deeds  remains  not  even  in  tradition  or  legendary  song. 

I  am  indebted  to  the  politenes  of  the  editors  of  those  invaluable  periodicals 
the  Knickerbocker  and  the  Now-York  Review,  for  the  figure  of  the  Pal- 
enciam  head  and  the  cuts  that  represent  the  inscription  on  the  "  Dighton 
Hock." 


I' l!*<;(»\' |;h  N      Ml      A  Ml!  II  If  A. 


Shado  of  Spur.:- 
hoim!  toll  if  llioii 
canst  what  quali- 
ties such  a  f()rinc( 
head  an  thi^  iiit 
plies. 


This  hrlmot  is 
said  to  rcsnmhlo 
thnso  dnscribed 
liy  Horner. 


Oh!  that  some  mighty  genius  like  that  of  Belzoni  would  arise  and  remove 
from  this  city  of  the  world  called  neiv,  the  veil  that  conceals  its  origin.* 

It  is  supposed  that  this  city  was  destroyed  by  some  internal  convulsion, 
or  like  those  of  the  south  of  Europe,  was  overwhelmed  by  barbarians  of  the 
north.     Such  it  is  said  were  of  Celtic  origin. 

It  is  not  singular  that  it  should  have  been  concealed  from  view  for  ages, 
when  wo  recollect  that  cities  of  the  eastern  continent  have,  in  like  manner, 
remained  in  oblivion  till  of  late.  We  allude  to  the  ruins  of  Pestum  in  Cam- 
pania of  Italy,  and  to  those  of  Petra  of  Idumea  in  Asia.  A  new  forest  hid 
for  centuries,  the  former  from  the  degenerate  sons  of  Rome,  while  the  splen- 
did structures  of  Petra  were  known  only  to  Bedouins  for  over  a  thousand 
years.  Wlio  does  not  delight  to  read  about  the  roses  of  Pestum  1  Yet  they 
still  unfold  their  inimitable  petals  amid  the  ruins  of  palaces  and  beside  di- 
lapidated temples. 

Do  we  admire  the  boundless  forests,  the  lofty  mountains,  and  the  majestic 
rivers  of  our  hemisphere  1  The  vast  wilderness  of  ruins,  once  enlivened 
by  intelligent  beings,  should  demand  a  higher  claim  to  our  admiration. 

The  antiquities  of  America  stretch  from  the  great  lakes  of  the  north  and 
west  to  central  America,  and  the  southern  parts  of  Peru  on  the  south ;  from 

*  As  the  cRlnbratcd  traveller  J.  L.  Stephens,  Esq.  is  appointed  Minister  te  Giiatimala,  it  is  his  in- 
tention to  visit  Palenquc. 


T 


A    LRCTUBi    ON    TBB 


the  Allegany  mountains  on  tli«  cast,  to  the  Rooky  mountain*  on  the  west; 
and  eveti  from  the  Pacific  to  tho  Athmtic  ucoan. 

We  will  not  8ay  us  tho  Athenians  said  of  thoir  nation,  that  tho  first  inha- 
bitants of  America  wore  created  when  the  sun  was  first  lit  up  in  tho  sky  ; 
hut  wo  must  presume  they  early  reached  this  continent  from  the  old  world. 

Tho  learned  Dr,  Clarke  says  that  the  continents  were  once  unite  ',  but 
that  by  tho  force  of  winds  and  waves  tho  isthmuses  were  broken  up  and 
formed  into  islands  along  the.  coasts.  Easy  however  is  tho  transition  from 
tho  oa.st  to  the  west  by  the  way  of  Uhoring's  struits  when  wo  consider  that 
they  are  only  thirteen  leagues  wide. 

Adverse  winds  also  might  have  driven  the  frail  vessels  of  the  ancients  to 
the  region  lying  on  the  gulf  of  Mexico  and  elsewhere. 

But  as  the  tropical  animals  found  in  America  could  not  have  cros.sed  over 
by  Bhoring's  straits  when  frozen,  it  is  said  th(!y  must  have  como  by  land 
that  once  extended  from  Asia  to  America  in  tho  torrid  zone.  Hence  the 
course  taken  by  tho  Palcncians  in  coming  from  tho  plains  of  Shinar.  It  is 
evident  that  they  must  have  como  to  Central  America  immetliatoly  after  the 
flood,  before  any  orders  of  architecture  were'  invented,  otherwise  they 
would  have  introduced  such  into  tlieir  new  city. 

The  traces  of  different  rac^s  of  men,  now  extinct,  aro  to  bo  found  in 
America,  as  the  dwarfish  and  tho  giant.  The  graves  of  the  former,  four 
and  a  half  feet  long,  are  seen  in  G^eorgia,  and  the  bones  of  the  latter  farther 
north — some  of  the  tliigh  bones  are  two  or  three  inches  longer  than  thoso 
of  the  present  inhabitants — craniums  are  found  large  enough  to  cover  tho 
head  of  the  observer.  And  is  it  strange  it  should  have  been  said  in  the  Sa- 
cred Volume  1     "  And  there  were  giants  in  those  days." 

It  is  thought  that  the  ancestors  of  the  present  race  of  Indians  are  of  Tar- 
tar origin,  who  came  to  this  cominent  by  the  way  of  the  Fox  Islands  about 
A.  D.  600. 

The  eyes  of  mankind  from  the  time  of  Pythagoras  have  been  turned  to  the 
west  in  anticipation  that  here  new  discoveries  were  to  be  made  and  hither 
were  the  adventuroiis  at  length  led. 

And  who  was  the  first  among  known  discoverers  1  Who  are  not  ready  to 
answer,  Columbus  1 

A  different  answer  might  surprise  some.  One  is  given  in  the  name  of 
the  Northmen.  It  is  asserted  that  Leif,  a  Northman,  was  the  first  who 
discovered  the  country  south  of  Greenland,  unless  we  except  Newfound- 
land. 

Biarne  sailed  from  Norway,  directed  by  the  stars,  for  Greenland ;  but 
being  driven  by  the  winds  for  several  days  to  the  south,  he  saw  an  island — 
probably  Newfoundland. 

The  discovery  of  America  by  the  Northmen  excites  a  vast  deal  of  curio- 
sity. And  is  it  not  a  laudable  curiosity  that  leads  one  to  ascertain  what 
white  men  first  trod  regions  in  which  the  modest  wild  flower  wasted  its 
sweetness  on  the  desert  air  1 


i  li 


UlflCOVUKV    or    AMERICA.  B 

Ai  Geography  in  ono  of  the  eyps  (ifliifltory,  it  would  ho  wnll  at  this  tima 
to  dirnct  thn  ntttMitioii  to  \\w  map  of  North  Amuricii,  and  to  thuijio  uf  Muhsu- 
chunottH  iitid  llhoilc  Islntiit  in  piirti(  iilar. 

Tho  Koyiil  .So(i(>ty  ol  NorthtMti  Antiiiniirisins  in  CoponhuKen  have  lately 
publialxMl  an  inrijortant  work.  While  the  contents  of  this  massive  work  ar6 
tnvahmhio,  its  mochanicul  execution  retlocts  great  honor  on  the  society  that 
published  it. 

This  work  is  called,  as  translated  from  the  Latin,  "  Anierican  Antiqui- 
lies,  or  northern  writings  of  things  in  America  l)ef«)re  Mio  time  of  (Jo* 
lumhiis." 

The  determination  was  formed  alK)ut  ten  years  since  l)y  the  Royal  Society 
of  Antiquarians  in  ('()pcnha,iioi\  to  pulilish  the  authorities  on  which  these 
accounts  rest  in  the  original  documents,  uccom[)anied  with  full  comnienta- 
iries  anrl  illustrations.     The  text  is  in  the  Icel!Mi(Hc  tonmie. 

The  inijuiry  is  often  niii(l(>,  who  wen;  the  Nnrthnit>u  !  'I'liey  were  ihe  de- 
scendants of  the  Scandinavians,  wlio  it  is  tiiougiit  spran.f,^  from  theThr.icians 
mentioned  by  Homer — a  nation  now  extinct.  The  Nortiimon  lived  in  Den- 
mark and  Norway.  Their  literuture  has  Inicn  compared  in  extent  to  the 
literary  renuiins  of  (in>(!c(!  and  Latium.  This  opens  a  new  fountain  of  re- 
vtarch,  where  the  scholar  may  often 

"  Return  and  liiif^nr,  linger  and  return.*' 


This  great  work  contains  two  Icelandic  documents  now  for  the  //'r.v/ time 
published  accurately  in  a  complete  form,  purporting  to  he  histories  written 
by  or  for  persons  who  discctvered  and  visiteil  the  North  American  coast 
early  in  the  eleventh  century,  confirmed  and  illustrated  l)y  extracts  from  no 
less  than  fifteen  other  original  manuscripts,  in  which  the  facts  set  fortli  in 
Ihese  histories  are  eitlier  mcntioried  or  alluded  to.  The  Uoyal  .Society  have 
alfcady  collected  two  thousand  sagas  or  works  of  Scandinavian  or  Icelan- 
dic history. 

In  this  work  in  particular  is  found  Adam  Bremen's  account  of  the  disco- 
very of  America,  communicated  to  him  in  the  eleventh  century  hy  Sweyn 
Estrithsop.  king  of  Denmark. 

1st.  Are  these  documents  genuine  ! 

2d.  If  so,  why  have  they  not  l)ecn  heard  of  before  ! 

The  work  itself  contains  evidences  of  the  antiquity  and  authenticity  of 
Ihe  manuscripts  from  which  the  publication  has  been  made,  sullicient  to 
raise  them  above  any  just  suspicion. 

These  documents,  as  Professor  Rafn  says,  have  been  known  to  Icelandic 
scholars,  but  these  have  been  so  few,  comparatively,  and  the  means  of  these 
Tew  so  limited,  that  tiiey  have  not  i)een  able  to  yivo  them  suitable  examina- 
tion, much  less  to  be  at  the  expense  of  |)ublishing  them. 

How  long  did  the  ancient  classicj.  for  instance,  lay  concealed  in  the  n.j- 
nasteries  of  Europe  for  the  want  of  some  one  to  exhibit  them  to  public  view  I 
These  Icelandic  documents  may  have  been  hid  in  like  manner  in  the  libra- 

2 


10 


LfiCTURi:    ON    THi 


■! 


i  L 


I'  II. » 


ru  ( 


ries  of  priests.  And  we  may  say  that  the  Society  of  Antiquarians  in  Copen- 
hagen, in  bringing  those  documents  to  hL,dU,  rescmhlcs  the  conduct  of  the 
poet  Lauiciitc,  Petrarch,  in  the  fourteenth  century,  vvhvj  at  his  own  expense, 
had  the  -  iluahle  manuscripts  of  anticjuity  dragged  from  the  dust  of  the 
cloisters,  transcribed  and  exhibited  to  the  world. 

Who  docs  not  admire  the  lovely  scenery,  where  the  l)eautiful  and  sublime 
are  blended,  displayed  in  the  succession  of  falls  at  Trenton  1  Yet  these 
were  concealed  ibr  ages,  till  a  master-spirit  revealed  them  lo  an  admiring 
world !  And  does  not  the  raven  wing  of  night  hide  the  works  of  art  also  till 
disclosed  in  a  similar  way  T  The  learned  of  Iceland,  though  like  the  gene- 
rality of  poets,  were  poor,  yet  they  were  not  disposed,  like  Milton,  to  sell 
their  manuscripts  for  a  jialtry  sum. 

It  is  well  known  tlip-  Norwegians  have  long  claimed  the  honor  of  disco- 
vering and  colonizing  America  before  the  time  of  Columbus. 

Instead  of  this  discovery  being  a  new  fangled  theory,  as  some  say,  there 
have  been  several  works  published  in  Europe,  upwards  of  a  century,  which 
speak  of  these  facts.  One  of  these  was  printed  at  the  university  of  Oxford, 
in  1716. 

Iceland  appears  to  have  been  a  medium  of  communication  between  Nor- 
way and  Greenland — a  stepping-stone,  as  it  were,  from  one  continent  to 
another. 

Iceland,  thought  by  some  to  be  the  "  Ultima  Thule"  of  Virgil,  wtis  disco- 
vered by  the  Norwegians  in  8(51.  The  oppression  of  king  Harold  ILirfaga 
drove  them  there  for  an  asylum 

But  the  restless  spirit  of  the  Northmen  would  not  allow  them  to  be  idle. 
They  made  incursions  in  every  direction,  and  discovered  Greenland  in 
984. 

In  986,  a  colony  was  begun  by  Eric,  the  red.  This  was  at  length  des- 
troyed. By  the  exertions  of  the  Danish  Society,  the  ruins  of  this  settle- 
ment have  been  discovered.  It  was  located  on  the  west,  near  Cape  Far- 
well.     It  is  seen  in  the  remains  of  churches  and  buildings. 

Leif,  the  son  of  Eric,  commenced  a  voyage  of  discoverv  in  the  year  1000. 
His  crew  consisted  of  thirty-five  men.* 

After  sailing  for  some  time  south  west,  they  made  land — they  anchored 
and  went  ashore.  This  place  was  destitute  of  grass,  and  was  covered  with 
a  slaty  rock  which  they  called  Helluland.  This  is  supposed  to  be  Labra- 
dor, Fishermen  of  the  present  day  will  give  a  like  description  of  that  bar- 
ren region. 

From  thence  they  sailed  southwardly,  and  after  holding  on  for  some 
time,  they  again  made  land  and  went  ashore.  This  country  was  level,  had 
a  low  coast,  presenting  here  and  there  bluffs  of  white  sand,  and  was  thickly 
covered  with  wood.  This  they  named  Markland,  or  Woodland.  This  ig 
thought  to  be  Nova  Scotia. 


*  Lief  WM  the  first  to  introduce  miaiionariea  into  Greenland. 


".«|]B(piH .»,  'IJJ    I  »   "PMi 


DISf.'iiVEHY     or     AMERICA. 


11 


Leaving  MjxrkUind,  they  sailed  south  westerly  with  a  fair  wind  two  days 
before  seeing  land  again,  when  thuy  j)assed  down  a  promontory,  probably 
the  east  side  ol'  Cape  Cod,  stretching  east  and  north,  and  then  turning  west 
between  an  island  (Martha's  Vineyard)  and  tin;  main  land,  they  entered  a 
bay,  (Narragansoft  Hay,)  tliroiigh  which  a  river  flowed,  (Taunton  River,) 
when  they  came  to  anchor  and  went  ashore.  •Itosolving  to  spend  the  win- 
ter here,  they  called  the  place  Loilkbuthir,  or  place  ol'  booths.  Here  find- 
ing grapes  very  plenty,  they  called  thi;  place  \'ineland  or  Wineland  the 
good.  This  land,  to  thost  coming  Irom  the  remote  north,  appeared  as  na- 
ure  in  the  "  world's  first  spring." 

Early  in  the  season  they  returned  to  Greenland.  Leif's  return  became 
the  principal  subject  of  conversation. 

The  next  adventurer  was  Thorwald,  his  brother.  Anfl  you  will  observe 
that  he  and  the  other  navigators  gave  tlic  s^ine  account  of  places  they 
visited.    Were  not  this  the  case,  who  could  believe  any  of  their  reports  ? 

Thorwald,  thinking  the  country  had  not  been  sulhciently  explored,  set 
sail  in  1002,  j^nd  proceeded  to  Leifsljuthir,  where  ho  lived  till  1004. 

In  the  spring  of  1004,  he  sailed  from  Leifslmthir.  after  passing  along  the 
■shore  of  the  promontory  east  and  north,  they  sailed  round  a  sharp  point  of 
land  called  Kjarlanes.  This  must  have  been  Cape  Cml.  Kjarlanes  im- 
plies Keclcape.  For  Cape  Cod,  at  the  extremity,  is  in  shape  of  the  keel  of 
ancient  vessels,  which  curved  inward. 

It  is  supposed  Thorwald  was  killed  by  the  natives,  near  Plymouth. 

In  1006,  Thorfins,  or  Thorfin,  commanded  one  of  the  three  ships  that 
came  from  Iceland  to  Greenland.     He  was  of  royal  lineage. 

In  the  spring  of  1007,  Thorfin,  with  three  ships  and  one  hundred  and  sixty 
tnen,  besides  cattle  and  all  necessary  materials  for  establishing  a  colony, 
set  sail  for  vim  land. 

They  sailed  to  Helluland  or  Labrador ;  from  thence  to  Markland  or  Nova 
Scotia;  and  from  thence  to  Kjarlanes,  or  Cape  Cod.  Sailing  south  by  the 
east  side  of  the  promontory,  which  terminated  at  Kjarlanes,  they  passed 
along  beaches  or  trackless  dserts  of  sand.  How  descriptive  of  this  bleak 
and  sterile  coast. 

Those  who  have  sailed  from  Boston  to  Narragansett  Bay,  are  ready  to 
say,  that  I  am  not  drawing  an  ideal  picture. 

Continuing  their  course,  they  arrived  at  an  island  between  which  and  the 
main  land  a  stream  appeared  to  pass.  They  called  it  Shauiney.  This  is 
supp'&sed  to  be  Martha's  Vineyard.  Nine  men  went  away  in  one  of  the 
ships  and  never  returned.  It  is  said  they  were  driven  on  the  coast  of  Ire- 
'and  where  they  were  seized  as  slaves. 

In  the  spring,  Thorfin  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  others  went  to  the 
mnin  land.  They  called  the  place  Hoj),  the  residence  afterwards  of  king 
Philip.  Here  they  found  large  numbers  of  skrellings  or  natives.  Thorfin 
carried  on  a  traffic  with  them  by  exchanging  bits  of  colored  cloth  for  furs. 
In  consequence  of  their  frequent  attacks,  in  1009,  they  returned  to  Green- 


IS 


A     LECTURE     ON     THK 


Hi 


land.  Then  it  will  be  recollected  that  the  Northmen  had  not  the  use  of 
fire-arms,  with  whirli  to  defetul  themselves  against  the  assaults  of  the  sava- 
ges. Those  lords  of  the  wilds  had  a  rude  kind  of  engine  by  which  they 
hurled  large  stones  against  their  Ibes ;  and  it  .s  possible  that  the  white  man 
would  never  have  driven  the  red  uuin  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Rocky  moun- 
tains, but  for  tlie  invention  of  gun-powder. 

I  cannot  forbear  to  sjjcak  of  the  valor  of  one  of  this  crew  of  the  North- 
men, a  female.  When  all  the  rest  were  disposed  to  flee  before  the  savage 
foe,  she  exclaimed,  "  If  I  only  luid  a  weapon,  I  ween  I  could  fight  better 
than  any  of  you."  Ah,  when  we  consider  tlie  jjatriotism  of  the  females  at 
the  siege  of  Carthage,  when  they  cut  their  locks  to  make  ropes  for  engines 
of  war,  and  when  wo  recollect  the  courage  of  jsabella,  of  Castile,  who  at 
the  conquest  of  (Jranada,  though  in  ill  health,  led  on  her  veterans  to  con- 
quest and  glory,  have  we  not  rcnson  to  suppose  tliat  this  Scandinavian  was 
sincere  in  her  declaration  f  Truly,  inilur  and  lienrvolcncc  are  but  parallel 
streams  in  the  female  heart.  We  would  not  applaud  courage,  however, 
unless  under  the  control  of  a  higher  and  holier  principle. 

Thorfin  married  ( Judrida,  the  widow  of  Tiiorstcin,  third  son  of  Eric. 
She  accompanied  her  husband  to  Vineland.  Snorre,  their  son,  was  the  first 
white  child  born  in  America.  From  him  descended  the  distinguished  as- 
sociate of  Professor  Rafn — Finn  Magnusen.  The  great  sculptor  Thor- 
waldsen,  now  in  P^urope,  is  also  of  this  family.  Bishop  Thulack  Rudolfson 
was  a  descendant  of  Thorfin's,  and  it  is  supposed  that  he  wrote  or  compiled 
these  documents. 

While  some  of  the  Northmen  went  as  far  as  Florida,  I  have  spoken  only 
of  those  who  visited  Vineland. 

Thorfin,  the  most  distinguished  of  these,  returned  to  Iceland,  where  Jie 
ended  his  days,  living  in  great  splendor. 

The  editor  of  the  American  antiquities,  Professor  Rafn,  and  his  associ- 
ate, Professor  Finn  Magnusen,  diink  that  Vineland  was  situated  in  the 
east  port  of  Rhode  Island,  and  in  the  south  part  of  Massachusetts,  on  and 
about  Narrgansett  Bay  and  Taunton  River. 

The  points  in  the  Icelandic  documents  alluding  to  the  locality  of  Vine- 
land  may  be  reckoned  the  Geography,  Natural  History,  Astronomical 
Phenomena  and  vestiges  of  residence  of  Northmen  in  that  place.  All  of 
these,  in  the  opinion  of  the  editor  of  the  American  Antiquities,  point  to  the 
head  of  Narragansett  Bay  as  the  locality  of  Hop,  the  central  part  of  Vine- 
land. 

As  the  Royal  Society  have  held  correspondence  with  several  learned  so- 
cieties in  this  country  for  some  years,  they  are  well  qualified  to  form  a 
judgment  on  this  subject. 

The  following  letter  from  the  late  General  Holstein,  Professor  in  "  Alba- 
ny Female  Academy,"  will  show  the  care  tak  jn  to  acquire  information  re- 
lative to  American  Antiquaties. 

"In  proof  of  the  great  exertions  made  by  the  Northern  Antiquarian  Socie- 
ty in  Copenhagen,  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  Scandinavian  Antiquities  in 


DISCOVKRY    OF    AMERICA. 


13 


America,  I  hereby  state  that  several  years  since,  a  letter  of  inquiry,  sealed 
with  the  seal  of  the  society,  was  sent  to  a  professional  gentleman  of  Geneva, 
in  this  state — a  translation  of  which  1  mule  irom  the  Danish  tongue." 

The  GEoonAiMiv  of  Vista. and. — (Joncerning  the  situation  of  Helluland, 
there  can  he  no  doubt,  as  it  was  the  lirst  land  south  west  of  Greenland. 
Where  else  rould  this  liave  l)cou.  unless  the  coast  of  Ijabrador^ 

Markland  was  situated  south  west  from  Hellulau ',  th.ee  days  sail,  or 
three  iiundred  and  sixty  Englisli  miles.  This  is  supposed  to  be  Nova 
Scotia. 

Tlie  distance  of  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick  agrees  with  the  ac- 
count tlie  Icelanders  gave  of  Markland. 

Vineland  was  siuiated  two  days  sail,  or  aSout  twoh'mdped  and  forty  En- 
glish miles  to  tlie  south  west  of  Markland,  and  if  Markland  has  been  pro- 
perly located,  must  be  suughl  in  or  near  the  south  part  of  Massachusetts. 

Ik  the  Icelandic  documents  it  is  said  tliat  Hop,  tlie  residence  of  Thorfin, 
was  situated  on  an  elevation  of  land,  near  a  river  which  flowed  south 
through  a  bay  into  the  ocean.  From  this  the  land  stretched  east,  and  turn- 
ing north,  formed  a  promontory  which  terminated  in  a  point  or  cape  which 
they  call  Kjarlanes.  The  east  side  of  the  promontory  was  bourided  by  long 
narrow  beaches  or  sand  hills.  To  those,  who  like  myself,  have  often  view- 
ed the  Atlantic  from  these  sand  hills,  this  account  appears  peculiarly 
striking. 

The  Natural  History  ok  Vinland. — Yinland  was  remarkable  for  its 
vines,  maple  trees,  maize,  and  a  great  variety  of  wild  animals.  The  wa- 
ters abounded  with  fish,  and  were  occasionally  visited  with  whales.  Birds 
were  numerous.  The  eider  duck  was  seen  about  the  islands  in  large 
numbers. 

As  to  vines,  they  are  said  to  be  numerous  now,  and  this  is  more  particu- 
larly true  of  the  country  around  Narrangansett  Bay.  It  is  said  the  grapes 
are  so  numerousbetween  Taunton  and  Providence,  as  to  almost  choke  up 
the  places  where  they  grow.  And  was  not  an  island  called  Martha's  Vine- 
yard, on  account  of  the  multiplicity  of  vines  growing  there? 

The  celebrated  Bishop  Berkley,  who  attempted  to  establish  a  theological 
seminary  in  Rhode  Island,  says  in  his  letter  to  his  friends  in  Europe,  that 
vines  were  as  plenty  on  the  island  as  in  Italy.  Gosnald  who  visited  the 
Elizabeth  Isles  in  160.3,'says  that  vines  were  in  great  profusion  there. 

In  the  documents  it  is  said,  that  in  that  region  are  the  red,  sugar  and  bird's 
eye  maple.  The  Northmen  cut  down  the  trees  and  after  they  were  dry,  they 
loaded  their  ships  with  the  timber.  It  is  supposed  that  the  bird's  eye  varie- 
ty was  made  an  article  of  commerce. 

As  to  Indian  corn  or  maize,  it  seems  our  pilgrim  fathers  found  some,  in 
what  is  now  called  Truro,  near  the  end  of  the  Cape.  It  was  buriea  in  the 
earth. 

Deer  still  roam  wild  in  the  pine  woods  near  Plymouth. 


14 


L£CTUKG    ON    THE 


It  is  needless  to  remind  the  reader  of  the  multiplicity  of  fish  that  still 
abound  in  the  waters  of  this  rcojion.  The  siiortsinun  may,  at  this  day,  tell 
his  friends  in  the  language  of  C;ipt.  Sniitli.  of  Jamestown,  wl\o  described 
this  quarter,  "of  the  pleasure  to  be  derived  from  angling  and  cr»)ssing  the 
sweet  air,  from  isle  to  isle,  over  the  silent  streams  of  a  calm  sea." 

As  to  whales,  I  have  occasionally  seen  tlicin  spouting  aroiuul  the  sandy 
shores  of  the  Cape. 

In  regard  to  tiie  eider  duck,  in  the  documents  it  is  said  still  to  inhabit 
these  parts.  In  the  Latin  translation  it  is  called,  "  anas  moUisima,"  a  duck 
with  the  finest  of  feathers.  Wild  foul  must  have  l)ecii  numerous  there, 
as  an  island  is  still  called  Egg  Island  from  the  quantity  of  eggs  they  de- 
posited. 

Thobfin  DEscRinEs  THt5  SOU,  AND  cMMAT'.j : — The  winters  of  Vineland 
are  said  to  be  remarkably  mild,  but  little  snow  falling,  and  cattle  subsisting 
out  of  doors  through  the  winter. 

This  account  does  not  agree  with  the  description  of  New  England  win- 
ters at  this  time.  Still  however,  it  has  been  the  practice  of  the  farmers  on 
Nantucket  and  Martha's  Vineyard,  to  let  their  sheep  and  cattle  lie  out  during 
the  winter  But  the  cold  winters  of  New  England,  compared  with  those 
of  Greenland,  are  as  the  mildness  of  spring. 

But  there  have  been  great  changes  in  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  in  the 
climate,  in  different  ages.  Change  is  the  law  of  nature.  Has  not  one  of 
the  bright  chister  been  blotted  out  of  the  map  of  heaven  1  Such  change  also 
takes  place  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 

The  Dead  Sea  was,  in  earlier  times,  sixty  miles  long — it  is  now  only 
thirty.  And  even  old  Ontario,  has  receded  from  her  former  bounds,  leav- 
ing to  the  present  generation  a  rich  tract  of  land,  several  miles  wide,  and  a 
beautiful  ridge  road.  Who  does  not  admire  the  everlasting  rocks,  rising  in 
stern  grandeur,  on  either  side  of  the  Mohawk  at  the  Little  Falls  ?  Yet,  the 
lovely  vale  above,  must  once  have  been  the  bed  of  a  vast  lake.  This  is 
manifest  from  the  fact,  that  there  are  "  pot  holes"  found  at  an  elevation  of 
sixty  feet  above  the  river,  at  these  Falls. 

These  circular  excavations  were  made,  ages  since,  by  the  circumvolution 
of  stones,  driven  by  the  rapid  descent  of  the  waters.  You  can  see  a  demon- 
stration of  this  fact  by  looking  at  the  High  Falls  of  the  Black  River,  or 
Trenton. 

I  have  a  specimen  of  Gneiss,  broken  from  one  of  these  holes,  which 
though  worn  by  the  busy  hand  of  old  time,  is  as  smooth  as  if  polished  by 
the  lapidary. 

And  what  a  mighty  labor  was  that,  for  the  waters  of  this  lake  to  have 
found  their  way,  gradually,  through  the  high  and  continuous  wall  of  Gra- 
nite, where  now  the  Mohawk  murmurs  as  it  rolls  along  its  new  channel. 

And  how  has  the  face  of  the  earth  changed  in  Massachusetts  since  visit- 
ed by  the  Scandinavians  \  For  instance,  at  the  extremity  of  the  Cape 
called  Kjarlanes,  I  have  seen,  amid  wide  waves  ni  sand,  innumerabl« 


b  1  bJ  C  U  V  D  U  \'    O  I'    A  M  L  K  1  C  .\ 


i& 


Btuinps  of  trees.  So  Uinf  vvhero  now  is  coiriiKirativcly  a  (Insert  of  sand,  and 
one  as  bloaU  as  that  of  SaluiiM.  once;  stood  a  lif  iis;>  forest.  As  the  ocean  is 
constantly  eiicroachiiiii  on  tlicie  l)aiT(!n  shores,  (iovernuient  is  expending 
large  sums  to  prevent  its  ravas^es  by  planting?  he.ich  rrass. 

One  cireunistanco  forces  itself  on  my  mind  tha'  may  not  be  improper  to 
name. 

I  do  not  find  that  there  is  any  mculion  in  tiiese  documents  of  there  being 
masses  of  sand  at  Kjarlancs.  As  it  is  said,  liie  east  side  of  the  promontory 
was  bounded  l)y  loiij)-  narrow  beaches  or  sand  liiUs,  and  I'rom  the  remains  of 
a  forest  of  which  I  spake,  at  the  extremity  of  this  (,'ape,  is  it  unreasonable 
to  suppose  it  stood  ther'.;  in  the  days  of  the  (irsl  voyagers  ! 

Geological  facts  prove  that  it  was  much  warmer  formerly  in  the  north 
than  it  is  now.. 

For  instance,  we  find  from  tlie  skeleton  of  the  elephant,  found  in  Siberia, 
that  this  tropical  animal  once  roamed  there. 

That  amid  the  bogs  in  Ireland,  in  Lai)lanri,  and  in  the  marshy  parts  oi 
North  America,  where  it  is  too  cold  now  for  ibrests  to  appear,  they  once 
flourished.  In  Scotland  also  are  to  bo  found  the  remains  of  oak  trees.  It 
is  too  cold  at  jn-esent  for  them  to  grow  there. 

The  following  observations  from  the  work  of  Hugh  Williamson,  M.  D., 
on  Climate,  politely  handed  me  by  Professor  Greene,  of  Alljany,  concur 
with  the  above  views. 

It  is  not  to  be  disputed  that  in  former  ages  Iceland  produced  timber  in 
abundance.  Large  trees  are  occasionally  found  there  in  the  marshes  and 
vallies  that  have  been  found  to  a  consideiable  deinh  in  the  ground.  Seg- 
ments of  these  fossil  trees  have  lately  been  exported  in  proof  of  the  alleged 
fact. 

It  is  asserted  in  the  ancient  Icelandic  records,  that  when  Ingulf,  the  Nor- 
wegian first  landed  in  Iceland,  879,  he  found  so  thick  a  cluster  of  birch 
trees,  that  he  penetrated  them  with  dilTiculty. 

Henderson  in  his  Travels  in  Iceland  says  that  the  climate  has  deteriora- 
ted there  from  the  fact  that  it  was  once  shaded  with  forests. 

When  the  first  Norwegian  colony  settled  in  (Jrecnland,  abput  1000  years 
ago,  they  found  no  ditiiculty  from  ice  in  af)|)r()aching  the  coast,  and  a  regu- 
lar correspondence  was.sujtported  by  their  people  for  many  years. 

And  has  not  climate  changed  even  in  this  region  !  A  gentleman  of 
Mount  Morris  says,  that  forty  years  ago,  the  winters  were  so  mild  in  the 
Genessee  Valley,  that  one  could  plougli,  and  that  swine  lived  through  them 
in  the  woods.  And  is  it  unreasonable  to  suppose  that  the  climate  of  New 
England  was  much  milder  in  the  days  of  the  Northmen  than  it  is  now? 

The  learned  editor  and  his  associate,  deduce  irom  the  Astronomical  data, 
lat.  410  24'  10"  which  is  the  latitude  of  Narragansett  I3ay  and  Mount  Hope. 
There,  at  the  winter  solstice,  December  22d,  the  day  is  nine  hours. 

That  the  Northmen  were  capable  of  taking  latitudes  is  evident  from  the 
circumstance,  that  at  that  period  they  speak  of  eclipses  which  have  lately 


16 


LECTUUK    ON    THK 


■i    ■ 


il 


l>  '.r 


been  calculated  by  Sir  Uavid  Brewster,  and  the  diatinRuished  Norwegian 
Astronomer  llanstoin,  and  found  correct. 

The  reading,  however,  that  leads  to  the  above  calculation  has  been  dis- 
puted. Tlie  whole  controversy  turns  on  the  meaning  of  two  words.  From 
what  we  can  understand,  we  presume  the  editor  is  correct  in  his  exposition. 

But  suppose  we  were  to  reject  all  history  on  account  of  some  apparent  or 
real  discrepency  in  narration  !  In  such  a  case,  some  future  reader  might 
declare  that  the  History  of  the  American  Revolution  was  neither  credible 
nor  authentic  ;  for  it  is  said  tliat  the  diwtinguislied  battle  of  the  17th  June, 
'75,  was  fought  on  Bunker's  Hill  instead  of  Breed's.  Who  does  not  know 
that  Bunker's  hill,  rising  back  of  Breed's,  is  more  elevated  than  the  latter  on 
which  the  monument  is  rising  1  I  know  not  why  Breed's  Hill'  is  called 
Bunker's  ur.less  on  account  of  ihe  greater  harmony  in  the  pronunciation  of 
the  latter,  or  tliat  they  proposed  raising  Ibrtiiications  in  the  first  place  on 
Bunker's  Hill. 

Little  can  be  said  op  the  vestiors  ok  the  residence  oe  the  North- 
men IN  THIS  country. 

There  is  a  large  rock  at  tlie  junction  of  Smith's  Creek  with  Taunton 
River,  with  a  singular  inscription  on  it.  It  was  evidently  made  with  an 
iron  instrument.  Passing  over  tlie  particular  rcjinarks  of  the  editor,  on 
these  letters,  I  would  give  his  supposition  as  to  their  meaning. 

Thorfin,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  took  possession  of  this  country. 

rxxxi  Ak 

f>ORFINX 

Where  you  see  the  character  in  tiie  first  line  is  the  figure  of  a  man;  and 
where  the  first  character  stands  in  the  second  line  it  is  supposed  T  H  was 
once  made. 

Professor  Rafn  has  deciphered  an  inscription  on  the  Paradisaic  rock  of 
Iceland,  which  he  says,  prevos  beyond  doubt  the  European  origin  of  the  in- 
scription on  this  in  Massachusetts. 

Instead  of  Mr.  Catlin's  having  seen  like  inscriptions  on  white  quartz  rocks 
at  the  west,  I  am  told  on  the  best  authority  tliat  he  says  lie  has  not  seen  such 
there. 

The  antiquary -to  whom  I  before  alluded,  and  who  takes  a  deep  interest  in 
these  things,  says  that  he  has  visited  "  V inland,"  and  finds  the  places  men- 
tioned in  the  documents  identified.  He  has  taken  a  copy  of  the  above  in- 
scription from  the  rock  itself. 

While  there  are  various  similiar  inscriptions  in  the  vicinity  of  Mt.  Hope, 
there  is  one  in  particular  on  a  rock  in  the  town  of  Kent,  C  nnecticut,  that  on 
comparing  it  with  the  figures  on  Dighton  rock,  leads  to  the  belief,  that  it 
was  made  by  the  Northmen. 


,1- 


>,iii,. 


DiaCOVERY    OP    AMERICA. 


17 


The  people  in  the  north  of  Europe  were  fond  of  making  inscriptions  on 
roclts  on  the  borders  of  lakes  and  rivers;  for  such  are  found  in  Norway, 
Sweden,  and  Scotland.     They  are  called  "  runes." 

One  of  these  inscriptions  found  on  '•  rock  in  Sweden,  has  been  decipher- 
ed by  Professor  Finn  Mafi;nusen.  The  inscription  relates  to  a  battle  fought 
about  A.  D.  080  between  the  kings  of  Norway  and  Sweden.  Accounts  of 
this  battle    'ere  given  by  authentic  historians. 

As  the  monuments  of  antiquity  in  North  America  are  different  from  those 
in  Mexico,  Central  and  South  America,  they  must  have  been  left  by  differ- 
ent races.  It  is  said  there  is  a  similiarity  between  the  antiquities  of  North 
America  and  those  found  in  the  North  of  l^iurope. 

If  the  fabled  Atalantis  of  Plato  once  lay  west  of  Europe,  migW,  not  the  de- 
scendants of  Japhet  have  passed  to  this  continent  by  the  way  of  Atalantis 
and  Newfoundland  as  well  as  by  Iceland  ? 


Were  the  Northmen  capable  of  making  discoveries  and  of  recording  them  ? 
The  rude  children  of  our  forests  could  not  i)erform  a  work  so  mighty. 

The  Roman  historian,  Tacitus,  spake  of  the  invasion  of  the  people  of  the 
north,  before  the  Christian  era.  He  says  of  the  Cimbri,  that  they  were  not 
a  small  tribe,  but  mighty  in  fame ;  that  the  vestiges  of  their  ancient  glory, 
still  remained  in  their  fortifications ;  that  no  other  nation  had  so  often  given 
them  cause  to  dread  their  arms — not  the  Carthagenians,  or  Spaniards,  or 
Gauls. 

In  later  times,  the  Northmen  made  incursions  upon  Germany,  France* 
England  the  Orkney,  Farroe  and  Shetland  Isles. 

The  French  were  in  such  fear  of  the  Northmen,  that  they  inserted  in 
their  Liturgy,  A  furore  Normanorum,  libera  nos,  O  Domine  ! 

In  the  ninth  and  tenth  centuries,  the  Danes,  or  Northmen,  invaded  or  took 
part  of  England,  and  seated  one  of  their  favorite  princes,  Canute  on  the 
throne  of  Alfred. 

They  were  a  daring  people — the  sea  was  their  home — the  mountain  wave 
was  the  scene  of  their  sport — far  and  wide  did  they  wander  without  compass 
to  guide. 

Their  vessels  were  built  of  timber  that  is  now  eagerly  sought  by  the  fu^t 
maritime  nation  of  the  earth. 

A  people,  some  of  whose  leaders  boasted  of  never  having  slept  by  a  cot- 
tage fire,  became  the  dread  of  Christendom.  They  ruled  the  waters  from 
the  Arctic  ocean,  to  the  Azores — they  passed  between  the  pillars  of  Hercu- 
les— they  ravagjld  the  coasts  of  Spain  and  France — sacked  the  cities  of  Tus- 
cany— drove  the  Saracens  from  Sicily.  They  desolated  the  classic  fields  of 
Greece — penetrated  the  walls  of  Constantinople.  Yes,  in  rescuing  the  Holy 
Sepulchre,  they  led  the  van  of  the  chivalry  of  Europe.  Mark  their  vdor  and 
their  success.  For  one  hundred  Northmen  knights  with  one  aidr  or  squire 
each,  drove  ten  thousand  Saracens  from  Sicily. 

3 


i 


iin,w|ii4iii-iii 


LECTURK    ON    THU 


( I'M 


>■  i 


m. 


i' 

1  ' 
1 

Scott  gives  a  beautiful  description  of  this  renmrkablo  people,  in  speaking 
of  the  Western  Isles. 


-•IM' 


i>  >.!(. 


"Tliitlicr  nimo  in  liint!»  iifnr, 
Stern  l.oclilin's  sons  of  rovlnp  wnr; 
Tim  Northmen,  trninnd  to  tiro  iiiiil  blood, 
Skilled  to  prcpure  tiio  raven'n  food ) 
Kinffs  ol  Iho  main,  llieir  leiider»  brave, 
Tlioir  Imrks  the  ilri'ffonn  ortlio  wiivc."* 


Seest  thou  tlie  tiny  floot  of  some  school  boy,  launched  on  an  insulated 
sheet  of  water  !  And  such  were  tlic  groatost  arniiunents  of  the  famous  na- 
tions of  antiquiiy,  compared  with  those  of  the  Northmen. 

The  presint  illustrious  (iiieen  of  Kiifiland  is  a  divecl  descendant  of  tlie 
Northmen.  It  will  he  recollected  that  Rollo,  the  .Norman,  invaded  France, 
in  912,  and  enthroned  himself  in  the  north.  In  lOfiH,  William  of  Normandy, 
conquered  Enfrland.  These  sovereigns  wvrc  Northmen,  and  from  their 
family  the  pride  and  glory  of  (Jreat  Britain  desieiided. 

At  the  beginningof  the  eleventh  century,  the  Danes  and  Norwegians  were 
converted  to  Christianity,  and  thereby  received  a  new  impulse,  that  led  them 
to  extend  the  blessings  of  tlio  Gospel.  And  who,  but  this  people,  could 
ever  have  established  missions  in  CJreenland  ! 


What  shall  we  say  of  the  abilih/  of  the  Northmen,  to  record  incidents  of 
their  voyage. 

In  the  year  1000,  on  their  conversion  to  Christianity,  they  adopted  the 
Roman  alphabet.  This  was  their  Augustan  age.  The  thirst  of  the  Iceland- 
ers for  learning,  is  seen  in  the  conduct  of  Illfigot,  their  supreme  legislator, 
who,  in  925,  undertook  a  voyage  to  Norway,  in  his  sixtieth  year,  to  acquire 
a  more  perfect  knowledge  of  the  legal  customs  and  institutions  of  the  parent 
country. 

In  Iceland,  the  learned  were  called  Skalds  and  Sagamen. 

The  former  were  poets  and  historians.  Skalds  denote  "  Smoothers  or 
polishers  of  language." 

The  Sagamen  recited  in  prose,  with  greater  detail,  what  the  Skalds  had 
recited  in  verse. 

By  the  recitations  of  the  Skalds,  the  real  and  traditionary  history  of  the 
country  was  transmitted  from  generation  to  generation. 
'  Memory,  is  perhaps  the  most  improvable  faculty  of  our  nature.  Deprived 
of  books,  it  depends  upon  its  own  resources.  Its  strengl;li  is  seen  in  the* 
following  instance :  An  Icelandic  Skald,  sang  sixty  differlnt  lays  in  one 
evening  before  King  Harold  Sigurdson,  and  being  asked  if  he  knew  any 
more,  declared  that  these  were  only  the  half  of  what  he  could  sing. 

Their  traditionary  histories  were  written  down  and  preserved. 

As  poetry  is  among  the  antiquities  of  all  nations,  the  events  it  records  have 
ever  been  preserved  by  the  recitations  of  Skalds,  Minstrels,  or  Bards. 

*Ib  daacribing  king  Harold'i  ship  it  is  «aid— "  And  dragons'  heads  adorn  the  ]>row  of  gold." 


>.■    ^'-■Ml.rjtiJ.  N 


UISOOVKRT    UK    AMKRIOA. 


14 


And  whom  doea  tho  conqueror  of  Wales  cut  oflTrom  the  land  ?  Does  not 
Edward  the  First,  of  Enp;l:ind,  destroy  tho  minsfrols  of  Wales,  lest  they 
should,  by  thoir  recitations,  awaiu.'ii  that  spirit  of  Hl)nrty  in  the  breast  of  the 
vanquislied,  which  wouUl  leud  thciu  to  throw  otf  iho  yoke  of  the  British 
monarch  1 

These  Skalds  were  distinpuished  men — the  companions  of  kings.  They 
were  sometimes  kinps,  as  in  the  iMstanco  ofUfigiiar  Fj()l(ll)rok. 

The  Sagamen  made  their  recitations  in  publii;  and  private,  at  convenient 
opportunities. 

If  Augustus  deli  fhted  to  have  Virgil  and  Iloriice  on  cither  hand,  so  the 
Scandinavian  monarchs  rejoiced  to  have  Skalds  and  Sagamen  in  their 
presence. 

At  solemn  feasts,  the  services  of  these  men  were  required. 

Sffimund,  in  165G,  collected  the  dilTercnt  poems  relating  to  the  mythology 
and  history  of  the  north.  The  collection  was  called  the  "Poetic  Edda." 
He  was  a  man  of  learning,  having  Ijccn  educated  at  the  universities  of  Ger- 
many and  France. 

He  performed  for  the  ancient  poems,  the  same  office  which  is  said  to  have 
been  done  by  the  ancient  Greek  rhapsodist,  who  fast  collected  and  ar- 
ranged the  songs  of  his  predecessors,  and  reduced  them  to  one  continuous 
poem,  called  Homer's  Iliad. 

Snorre  Sturslon,  judge  of  Iceland,  was  the  most  distinguished  scholar  of 
his  day.  His  principal  work  was  the  I'rosaii-  Edda.  It  treats,  in  particular 
of  Scandinavian  mythology.  He  lived  in  1178.  llis  bath  still  attracts  the 
attention  of  the  traveller.  The  aqueduct  of  it  is  five  hundred  feet  long,  and 
is  composed  of  hewn  stone,  finely  united  by  cement.  The  reservoir  is  sim- 
ilarly constructed,  and  will  contain  thirty  persons.  The  water  was  supplied 
from  one  of  their  warm  springs. 

The  general  characteristics  of  the  Icelandic  tongue,  are  copiousness, 
energy,  and  llexibity,  to  an  extent  that  rivals  every  modern  language  and 
which  enables  it  to  enter  into  successful  competition  with  the  Greek  and 
Latin. 

Were  not  the  Icelanders  then  capable  of  recording  the  events  incident  to 
a  voyage  of  discovery  ! 

The  internal  evidences  found  in  these  documents,  are  in  favor  of  their 
authenticity. 

Besides,  there  are  in  existence  a  series  of  works  from  the  time  when  these 
voyages  purport  to  have  been  made,  down  to  the  present  time,  which  have 
been  preserved,  and  which  make  mention  of  these  discoveries. 

Distinguished  men,  who  have  had  superior  opportunities  of  ascertaining 
the  merits  of  this  question,  have  come  tf)  the  conclusion,  that  the  descend- 
ants of  the  Scandinavians  wore  the  discoverers  of  America,  prior  to  the 
time  of  Columbus.  Among  these  are  Forster,  W^heaton,  and  Baron  Yon 
Humboldt. 

I  know  not  that  any  of  the  Northmen  returned  to  this  part  of  the  conti- 
nent to  live. 


4^. 


!  ! 


I    '   I 


r 


''  .  <Pf  !l.m4>"'^v^J  I' i«ii|*<IWiF<l<T'V'  I  11 1  ifll|il||^pi| 


^W 


: 

1 

r 

4 

L  »  U  T  U  R  U    U  N    T  H  U 

It  is  said,  Bishop  Eric  camo  to  Vinland,  in  1121,  and  that  tho  Iceland- 
ers visited  Nova  8cotia  in  l'M7. 

It  is  supposed  tliat  while  Thorlin  returned  to  Icelan<l,  his  men  formed 
colohies  in  this  region.  Althougli  driven  away  at  first  from  A'^inland  hy 
the  natives;  yet  it  is  possibh)  tlioy  niiglit  iiavo  returned  to  this  quarter  and 
left  evidences  of  their  arts  in  the  anticjuilies  I  shall  name  hereafter. 


There  are  evidences  that  New  England  and  this  country  were  inhabited 
by  a  race  superior  to  those  foimd  by  our  forefathers  in  lOSJO. 

In  proof  of  this,  I  would  mention  some  things  that  came  under  my  own 
observation.  I  shall  be  excused  for  introducing  tliom.  as  they  are  connected 
with  the  place  where  the  Northmen  sojourned. 

How  fond  is  man  to  linger  aronnd  mouldering  ruins — to  lix  tho  eye  on  the 
mutilated  colunm,  overgrown  witii  ivy ;  but  are  there  not  antiquities  as 
worthy  as  those  of  art  1    I  mean  those  ol'our  own  species. 

I  shall  make  a  remark  on  a  human  skeleton  I  saw,  not  long  since,  at  Fall 
River,  in  the  vicinity  of  Narraganselt  J5ay. 

I  stopped  at  Poeassct  House.     You  observe  they  use  Indian  names  in 
Massachusetts  as  well  as  in  New  York.     How  striking  the  remarks  of  Pro- 
fessor Hitchcock,  in  tho    fJeology   of  jNIassachiisetts,  when  he  declaims 
against  the  uncouth  names  given  to  some  of  its  mountains,     Ho  wouhl  pre 
fer  the  harmony  of  Indian  names. 

I  had  an  extensive  view  of  the  region  around  Mount  Hope,  lying  on  the 
west  of  Narragansctt  Day.  How  accurately  is  the  scenery  jjortraycd  in 
the  Icelandic  documents ! 

In  the  Museum,  next  door,  was  the  skeleton  of  one  as  illustrious  as  the 
son  of  Massasoit.  It  will  be  recollected  that  he  was  a  distinguished  chief; 
a  firm  friend  of  the  pilgrims  at  Plymouth.  He  had  two  sons,  Alexander  and 
Philip.  The  latter  was  killed  in  a  piece  of  woods  near  Fall  Uiver.  JJeau- 
tiful  is  the  situatitm  of  ^h)unt  Hope.  On  passing  it  lately,  the  place  where 
Philip's  house  stood,  was  pointed  out.  Mount  .([ope  has  become  a  place  of 
resort  for  those  who  wish  to  inhale  a  ])ure  air,  and  to  witness  some  of  the 
most  attractive  scenery  our  country  presents. 

This  skeleton  was  dug  up,  a  few  years  since,  in  that  place.  It  has  a 
breast  plate  or  medal  hanging  iVom  its  nock,  lliirteen  inches  long,  and  six  in 
width  at  the  top,  and  five  attlie  iuntom.  It  has  also,  an  ornament  of  fillet 
work  around  its  body,  four  and  a  half  inches  wide.  These  ornaments  tare 
made  of  brass.  A  knowledge  of  the  usen  of  this  artificini  metal,  implies 
a  considerable  advance  in  the  arts. 

I  witnessed  lately  an  object  of  interest  in  this  state. 

Not  long  since,  a  large  oak  tree  cut  down  in  Lyons,  was  taken  to  New- 
ark, and  on  sawing  it,  there  were  found,  near  the  centre,  the  marks  of  an 
axe.  On  counting  the  concentric  circles,  it  was  discovered,  that  fniir  hun- 
drsd  and  sixty  had  been  formed  since  the  cutting  was  made. 


t.. ,...■, 


■•.^'■.ItiLf^J.vLy..' 


.^■^■i.^.^Ci^    ..... 


DIBCOTF.RY    OF    AMIRIOA. 


21 


But  the  most  striking  circumstance  is,  that  this  large  cayity,  now  Tisible, 
was  made,  by  an  edged  tool.  Tho  rude  stono  iixps  of  the  present  race  of 
Indians  could  never  hsivc  ui.ido  clofts  so  smooth  as  those  I  saw  in  the  block 
at  tho  Hotel  in  Newark. 

A  clergyman  olCummington,  Massachusetts  told  me  ho  saw  a  like  cut  in 
a  hemlock  of  that  place.  Since  made  by  an  edged  tool,  three  hundred  and 
twenty-two  circles  had  been  formed. 

I  have  seen  a  similar  cutting  made  in  an  oak  tree  at  Lockport,  probably 
300  years  since.  I  examined  also  a  piece  of  burnt  brick  taken  from  be- 
neath an  oak  tree  2  feet  10  inches  diameter,  at  tho  ruins  of  a  fortification  in 
Wisconsin. 

Such  objects  as  these,  shew  that  the  light  of  knowledge  was  lit  up  here 
long  before  the  time  of  Columbus.  And  by  whom  this  was  done,  and  by 
whom  it  was  blown  out,  possibly  some  future  antiquaries  can  tell. 


An  important  inquiry  arises.  Was  Columbus  aware  of  tho  discoveries  by 
the  Northmen  t 

From  a  letter  preserved  by  his  son,  it  appears  that  he  visited  Iceland  in 
1477.  And  it  is  thought  by  some,  that  ho  there  obtained  a  knowledge  of 
the  discovery  of  Vinland.  Allowing  this  to  be  tho  case,  it  is  singular  he 
should  never  have  given  any  informations  of  such  knowledge. 

Instead  of  walking  through  Spain,  leading  his  son  by  the  hand,  would  he 
not  at  once  have  rushed  into  tho  presence  of  the  sovereigns,  and  acquired 
patronage,  wealth  and  honor,  by  telling  them  that  the  obscure  Icelanders 
had  discovered  the  region  he  wished  to  unfold  1 

His  greatest  enemies  never  accused  him  of  having  reached  the  new  world 
by  information  received  from  Iceland. 

After  all,  let  not  the  circumstance  of  this  prior  discovery  cause,  in  cur 
view,  the  laurels  given  to  Columbus  to  wither  on  his  brow.  Let  us  ever 
honor  him  for  his  per.severence  and  his  virtues. 

Let  not  Leif,  and  his  associate  Northmen,  deprive  him  of  what  the  voice  of 
nations  has  awarded,  the  merit  of  having  given,  not  to  Ferdinand  and  Isa- 
bella only,  but  to  successive  generations  a  new  world. 


Iceland,  though  but  a  speck  on  the  bosom  of  the  northern  ocean,  is  not 
unworthy  our  notice.  Though  dark  to  the  superficial  observer ;  yet  it  shines 
with  a  lustre,  brighter  than  the  flame  rising  from  its  volcano.  It  is  the 
light  of  knowledge.  That  obscure  island  is  remarkable  for  the  attention 
paid  to  learning.  Even  many  among  the  common  class  pursue  the  higher 
branches  of  study.  Their  long  nights  are  enlivened  by  the  custom  of  every 
member  of  the  family  gathering  around  the  bright  lamp,  while  one  reads  for 
the  amusement  and  instruction  of  all. 


n 


I.BOTURI   ON   Tm 


II 


Th«  sources  of  hnppin&sv  are  not  like  those  of  mif^hty  riven  hid  frdmtha 
view  of  most  people — they  are  nrroHsjIile  to  all  The  Inolanders  living  in 
a  remote  iHlnnd,  ami  cut  ot)'  from  priviUtKos  that  milder  climates  present,  are 
naturally  lc<l  to  look  for  happiiicHs  in  tho  piirHiiit  of  knowledge. 

If  the  celohrated  Pliny  could  say  his  books  wore  sovoroipfn  consolers  of 
sorrow,  cannot  the  Icelander  also  declare,  that  when  mountain  waves  lash 
the  shores,  he  can  find  plea.sure  in  the  pursuit  ol  those  studies  that  mend  the 
heart  and  cnli(;hten  the  mind  1  Ah,  yes,  fondness  fur  books  will  create  an 
artificial  summer  in  the  depths  of  the  most  jfloomy  season.  •     "'"^  •■.»>.*/  '  " 

The  sunny  Italy  may  boast  of  the  boaufeouH  tints  that  flush  her  skies; 
but  after  all,  her  olh^minato  inhiibitaiits  may  bo  destitute  of  that  happiness 
enjoyed  by  those  who  live  where  winter  reigns  uncontrolled  most  of  the 

year.'"'     •■"'''      •'    ■'     ■    -i    Ui      ■■  /.     .;      i    .  •.       ,-.    'h,'  ■..,..  ,     i    •  -m    ',^(i;;i,i      i;i,p 

The  benevotcnre  of  Deity  is  seen  in  the  contrntednesx  felt  by  those  who 
live  in  the  higher  latitudes,  where,  as  a  writer  said  of  countries  north  of  the 
Alps,  nature  seems  to  have  acted  the  part  of  step-mother. 

What  a  contrast  between  the  condition  of  the  Icelanders  and  that  of  thnir 
forefathers.  They  were  the  worshippers  of  the  god  Wodin.  And  what 
were  his  attributes  ?  He  was  styled  the  Father  of  Carnage !  His  greatest 
favorites  were  such  as  destroyed  most  oi'  their  fellow-creatures  in  the  field 
of  battle. 

But  the  Prince  of  Peace  has  broken  the  sceptre  of  the  Father  of  Carnage. 

And  here  where  the  Northmen  found  those  who  heard  the  Great  Spirit  in 
the  thunder,  now  those  tidings  are  proclaimed  that  impart  joy  to  all  people. 

This,  as  Cicero  said  of  Rome,  is  the  glory  of  all  lands.  - . ,.!,., 

"  Wisdom  and  knowledge  are  the  stability  of  our  times."  All  clasies 
become  sensible  that  knowledge  is  the  guardian  of  property.  In  every 
place,  they  eagerly  seek  after  that  wisdom  which  as  Isocrates  says  is 
the  only  imperishable  treasure.  Who  can  stay  the  progress  of  knowledge  1 
You  might  as  well  tlxink  of  erecting  a  tower  whence  you  could  grasp  the 
Pleiades  as  to  attempt  to  oppose  the  march  of  mind.  To  swell  the  tide  of 
improvertient,  it  is  pleasing  to  reflect  that  men  of  the  first  talents  are  en- 
gaged, and  that  through  the  medium  of  those  lectures,  which,  if  they  are 
not  the  fountains  of  knowledge,  are  important  guides  to  them.       ...•■:     '  . 


ii 


A  word  in  praise  of  the  Scandinavians.  Like  the  Patriarch,  they  went  in 
search  of  a  region,  they  knew  not  where.  We  praise  them  for  their  courage 
— Ti^e  applaud  them  for  their  zeal — we  respect  them  for  their  motives ;  for 
they  were  anxious  to  enlarge  the  boundaries  of  knowledge.  They  reached 
the  wished-for  land,  •  ■•■•'-  -•  •-»  .i.*..!.    ^.■->   ■>  m,-.  i         ,  ;■  .i/A.iwt  i:>  nn 

,„^       '         '  '     .  Mil. •II"!  i^r  p;. ., 

where  now  the  western  ».>n, 
O'er  fieldB,  and  floods,  o'er  every  IWlng  ioul        • '    "■''»  '^'*  '  '  -  <^-^'' 
If/  Diffuieth  glad  repoac  'wiU    >.{i  ].>  "itiui  vn' 


v~>,V-  i'Kv  :.'..■;,- 


The  Scandinavians  have  opened  to  the  view  a  broad  region,  where  smiling 
bepe  inntes  successive  gen*>ration8  from  the  old  world. 


UlUCOVl'.ttV    or    AMU  IMCA. 


V3 


Such  men  as  Osar  ..r  a  Tntnnrlar..,  ronq.irr  but  to  .levnstnto  ro-  i-Tj. 
DiscovernrH  udd  m-vv  n-xions  ..f  (iMiiliiy  i.n.l  homitv  to  tlwsr  iilrmr'y  knovi 
And  are  not  tl.o  hardy  adventurcH.  [.LMiKhin^  (lir  l-riny  uavr,  mow  uttraci 
tivB  than  the  troop,  of  Alt^varulcr,  mar.  Iuiik  to  ron.iiif^r  tho  world  w  h 
plumes  waving  in  tlio  poritU,  l.roiv/.,..  with  amis  ^nttcMintf  in  the  Hun-l)eam«i 
Who  can  tell  the  benohts  tho  former  cor  (er  on  niankitul  ! 

To  count  Ihnm  ull  ilcniiiinlii  i  tlinuMiiiil  loiigm.., 
A  Ihruat  utbrua*  uiiij  udaiin  iilinii  luii(». 


'•^^,«^' 


W.  Molinoux,  Printw,  cor.  of  Ann  ana  NMauu-itreets,  K.  V. 


TPBP 


